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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - JANUARY 2001
January was a particularly warm month with much of New
South Wales, Victoria and South Australia recording the highest mean
maximum and minimum temperatures on record.
Western Australia A developing low was named tropical cyclone Terri on the 30th while located approximately 220 kilometres north-west of Broome. Tropical cyclone Terri initially tracked south-west parallel to the Kimberley coast, intensifying to Category 2 status. Tropical cyclone Terri then turned south-south-east and accelerated towards the east Pilbara coastline. The system crossed the coast near Pardoo at about 9am on the 31st, weakening slightly as it approached. Tropical cyclone Terri weakened further as it moved steadily towards the interior of the state and degenerated into a tropical depression with the last cyclone warning issued by the Bureau at midnight on the 1st of February. The maximum observed wind gust was 139 km/h at Pardoo with rainfall in the path of the cyclone generally less than 100 mm. Although there was no major damage reported, there was minor flooding of the tributaries of the De Grey river system which contributed to the closure of roads into Marble Bar.
Queensland On the 8th, at Murphy Creek (base of Toowoomba Ranges), a severe thunderstorm passed through damaging several properties. Damage was restricted to mostly trees, though a garage was destroyed and a house moved off its foundations. Eastern Toowoomba was also affected with again most damage being to trees. On the 11th, a severe thunderstorm at Birdsville produced wind gusts of 104 km/h, only 6.6 mm of rain was reported from this storm. On the 17th, an area of instability over southeast Queensland resulted in intensive thunderstorm activity. Severe storms moved up the New South Wales coast into Queensland producing large hail and damaging winds during the evening. A line of severe storms extending from the Gold Coast to Warwick, moved through Southeast Queensland at about 11pm. Severe destruction of property occurred in New South Wales at Casino, though the damage in Queensland was mostly limited to trees. On the 18th, intense thunderstorm activity continued on from the previous evening in the southeast districts. Two main storms affected the greater Brisbane area early Thursday morning. A storm over the Gold coast area produced damaging wind gusts, unroofing some houses whilst an earlier storm left a trail of destruction from Mt Nebo to Redcliffe with hail the size of tennis balls reported. In the Wide Bay / Burnett and Capricorn regions, thunderstorm activity continued to move northwards during the day with severe storms causing damage to several barns and sheds (a house lost a roof near Gayndah) and with many trees being uprooted or snapped off. Storms moved into the Central Coast area overnight, with many houses losing power due to downed power lines. On the 19th, the band of storm activity continued to move up the Queensland coast with a severe thunderstorm causing extensive damage to several houses in the Ayr/Homehill region. A house was de-roofed and another partially destroyed, with small buildings and sheds also being blown away. A large number of trees were uprooted or snapped off. On the 27th, a line of storms moved through the area around Canungra. Damage from wind gusts was mainly confined to trees, with a 2ft diameter tree snapped in half, though damage was sustained to vineyard netting. On the 28th, there were marginally severe storms on the border ranges and adjacent areas. The storms were moving slowly so flash flooding was experienced in some parts, Hiddenvale received 78mm of rain from the storm. New South Wales On the 5th, at Uralla (Northern Tablelands) hail 2.4 cm in diameter was reported. On the 6th at Jindabyne (Southern Tablelands) hail 2 cm in diameter with strong winds and flash flooding was reported. There was 5 cm hail, south of Mudgee (Central Tablelands). At Dubbo (Central West Slopes), 4 cm hail with drifts up to 1 metre high was reported. Very heavy rain, 46 mm of rain in 20 minutes and wind gusts up to 135 km/h, devastated buildings and trees throughout Dubbo over a 25 minute period. Moree (North West Plains) had very heavy rain and winds gusts up to 124 km/h. On the 7th, Bathurst (Central Tablelands) had 4 cm hail with drifts up to 30 cm deep, very heavy rain and local flooding on the highway was reported. Albury (South West Slopes), had very heavy rain and wind gusts up to 94 km/h. On the 8th, 30 kilometres east southeast of Tenterfield (Northern Tablelands) wind gusts up to 93 km/h and a funnel cloud were reported, large branches and trees were down. Moree (North West Plains) had 96 km/h wind gusts. On the 12th, at Jindabyne(Southern Tablelands) 2 cm hail and flash flooding was reported. On the 15th, at Whittingham (Hunter) a 109 km/h wind gust was reported. On the 17th, Gloucester (Mid North Coast) had 3 cm hail. Nundle (North West Slopes) had 2.5 cm hail, 50 mm of rain in 15 minutes and 148 km/h wind gusts, tree damage was reported. Palmers Island (Northern Rivers) had 43 mm of rain in 60 minutes. Casino (Northern Rivers) had 6.3 cm hail, 31.2 mm of rain in 10 minutes and wind gusts up to 109 km/h which damaged buildings and devastated trees. Kendall (Mid North Coast), reported 4 cm hail over a 20 minute period. Glen Innes (Northern Tablelands) had 93 km/h wind gusts which caused tree damage. Grafton and Evans Head (Northern Rivers) both had 3 cm hail, 37 mm of rain in 30 minutes and wind gusts up to 111 km/h caused damage to trees and powerlines in Grafton. Gusts up to 135 km/h were recorded at Evans Head. Ryde (Metropolitan) had 2 cm hail for 5 minutes. Albion Park (Illawarra) had 75.5 mm of rain in 80 minutes. On the 19th, Goulburn (Southern Tablelands) had 2 cm hail. On the 24th, Deniliquin (Riverina) had 91 km/h wind gusts which caused tree damage. On the 25th, Mt Boyce and Lithgow (Central Tablelands) had 2 cm hail, very heavy rain and tree damage was reported at Lithgow. At Mt Boyce 31.6 mm of rain in 30 minutes was reported. Cobar(Upper Western) had a 94 km/h wind gust. On the 27th, at Blaxland(Central Tablelands) 34 mm of rain in 15 minutes caused flash flooding. On the 28th, Barraba(North West Slopes) had an 89 km/h wind gust, trees were down with roof damage to houses. On the 29th, at Numulgi (Northern Rivers) a tornado was reported over a 4 minute period. At Glen Innes (Northern Tablelands), 2 cm hail, 30 mm of rain in 30 minutes and tree damage was reported. On the 30th, Sofala (Central Tablelands) had 44.5 mm of rain in 30 minutes. Victoria On the 7th, hail 2 cm in diameter was reported at Whorouly in the Northeast district. On the 19th, a dust devil caused roof damage to a house at Forest Hill, a suburb of Melbourne. On the 24th, severe thunderstorms in Melbourne produced heavy rain and severe winds. Storms were reported at Sunshine, Knox, Glenroy, Carrum and the Dandenong Ranges. Two workmen were struck by lightning at Rockbank. At Mt Tarrengower near Maldon, severe wind gusts to 115 km/h were reported. At Maldon some damage to buildings occurred. In the Northern Country, storms produced severe winds which caused damage to buildings and trees. Damage occurred at Tongala, Eastville, and Rochester. At Horsham in the Wimmera district, severe gusts to around 90 km/h were reported. At Robinvale in the Mallee, severe gusts caused damage to buildings. A severe gust to 108 km/h was recorded by Walpeup AWS. In the Northeast, tree damage was reported near Whorouly. On the 25th, severe storms in the Rochester area (Northern Country) produced heavy rain leading to local flooding. Storms in the Stawell area produced heavy rain leading to local flooding. Some shops, houses and streets were flooded. 51 mm of rain in 60 minutes was recorded at Stawell. Other totals were 100 mm north of Stawell, and 50 mm at Joel Joel (east of Stawell). On the 26th, severe storms in the Melbourne Metropolitan area produced heavy rain. An embankment subsided at Millgrove. In West Gippsland, 51 mm of rain (24 hour total), associated with thunderstorms, was recorded at Lily Creek. At Tatura in the Northern Country, a storm produced 47 mm of rain in 30 minutes. On the 27th, at Bullioh near Tallangatta, storms produced severe wind gusts to 90 km/h. South Australia On the 4th, a thunderstorm at Woomera caused a wind gust to 90 km/h, no damage was reported. On the 11th, a thunderstorm at Orroroo in the Flinders Rangers, dumped 75 mm of rain in a short time causing localised flash flooding. On the 24th, severe thunderstorms caused damage to houses and power lines at Ramco, near Waikerie in the Riverland. Roofs and sheds at Halidon in the Murray Lands were also damaged. At Marree in the North East Pastoral, 60 mm of rain in an hour and wind gusts to 92 km/h were recorded. On the 25th, severe thunderstorms caused flash flooding which caused damage to houses and businesses in Wayville, Unley, Goodwood and Keswick. Flash flooding and shed damage at Springton in the Greater Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges. Flash flooding in the main street at Truro in the Mid North. Flash flooding washed away fences at Angas Valley in the Murray Lands, approximately 100 mm of rain fell. The severe storms dumped 37 mm of rain in 40 minutes at Coonawarra in the Lower Southeast and 82 mm in 45 minutes at Kulkami in the Murray Lands.
Queensland At the beginning of January, flood warnings were current for 5 river basins in western Queensland and the Gulf Country, as a result of widespread rainfall in December. At the end of December and the beginning of January, heavy rainfall occurred in the region from Home Hill to Tully which affected the lower Burdekin and Tully Rivers. A total of 83 flood warnings were issued for 7 river basins during January. Lower Burdekin River:
Tully River: Thomson and Barcoo Rivers and Cooper Creek: On the Thomson River, river levels peaked at Longreach in early January
and moderate flooding continued downstream to Jundah where a second
peak, lower than the December peak, occurred in mid January. No significant
flooding occurred in the Barcoo River during January. Diamantina River: Georgina River: Gulf Rivers:
Tasmania Two men were lost at sea off Cape Sorell on the 11th, a third man managed to reach the shore. It appears that their dinghy was swamped by a wave. Strong winds (and resultant heavy seas) delayed the departure of the Devil Cat Bass Strait ferry on the 15th. Gusts exceeding 90 km/h were reported at Cape Grim BAPS on the 15th; Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on the 14th, 15th, 20th, 27th, 28th and 30th; Mount Wellington on the 15th, 20th, 27th and 28th; Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) on the 15th, 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th and Derwent Estuary (TERSS Aerial) on the 15th and 20th.
Queensland On the 7th, 25 hectares of bush and grassland was burnt in the Goat Track area (Canungra, Southeast Queensland). On the 15th, Bush and grass fires at Caboolture (Southeast Queensland) caused a section of the Bruce Highway to be closed. On the 21st, a fire was reported in the Pentland National Park. On the 23rd, a small fire (less than 1 hectare) was reported at Rosenberger Rd, Wyreema (near Cambooya, South East Queensland). Victoria From the 2nd to the 5th, lightning strikes caused numerous fires. On the 5th, a fire weather team was outposted at Heywood in Western Victoria to provide services for the Crawford Lakes Road fire which burnt over 2,088 hectares of forest and heathland. The fire was brought under control on the 5th. South Australia On the 2nd, lightning started 27 fires in the South East and along the Victorian border. On the 4th, 17,500 lightning strikes were recorded across the state in the 24 hours to 5 pm. Lightning started several fires from Kangaroo flat in the South East to Nunjikompita on the West Coast, burning more than 8,560 hectares of scrub and grassland. On the 5th, lightning started a major scrub fire on a 5 kilometre front on Kangaroo Island, near Mt Taylor, west of Kingscote. Approximately 2,500 hectares of scrub and grassland was destroyed. Tasmania A large number of fires were reported during the month, with a total of over 10,000 hectares burnt. A number of fires were apparently started early in the month by lightning, an unusual occurrence for Tasmania. At Renison Bell on the 2nd, there was a forced evacuation of 170 workers from a tin mine, with over 80 hectares burnt. At Todds Corner on Great Lake on the 3rd, at least 150 hectares, believed started by lightning. On the 20th, at Eaglehawk Neck, 800 hectares were burnt. At Cape Sorell, on the 7th and again on the 22nd, 1,000 hectares, an historic Signalman's Station and an old cottage were destroyed. At King Island, on the 2nd and ongoing, a bushfire was started by lightning, burning 6,000 hectares, which caused smoke problems in southern Victoria. On the 19th at Pieman River and ongoing, 1,700 hectares were burnt.
Western Australia A deep low pressure system formed to the south of WA on the 24th and moved north on the 25th directing cool south to southwesterly winds across the SWLD. Near record low temperatures were recorded in the Central Wheat Belt and Great Southern districts. In the Perth Metropolitan area, Mt Lawley (the official Perth Metro site) reported a record low temperature of 8.9C, the previous low being 9.2C in 1925. Other cool spots in the metropolitan area included Jandakot Airport, 4.7C, also a record over the previous 8.4C recorded in 1999, and Perth Airport, 6.0C, equal to its record overnight minimum in 1955. Victoria Mildura had 42 consecutive days above 30 C from 30th of December 2000
to 9th of February 2001.
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